Riku Aalto, the chairperson of the Industrial Union, indicates that the strike warning is an attempt to break through a gridlock in months-long collective bargaining negotiations between the union and Technology Industry Employers.
“It has become clear that we cannot move forward by negotiating. This is still a relatively small-scale measure, but there is a readiness to resort to larger strikes,” he warned.
The union and employer organisation have sought to come to terms over a new collective bargaining agreement since September. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of the month. The negotiations have garnered nationwide attention because they will effectively determine the limits for pay increases across the economy.
The Industrial Union, alongside other members of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), announced last week they are pursuing pay increases of 10 per cent over the next two years – made up of a bump of six per cent and at least 150 euros in monthly pay in year one and of a bump of four per cent and at least 100 euros in monthly pay in year two of the agreement term.
Employers have dismissed the demand, describing it as one from an alternate reality. Aalto, in turn, has rejected the interpretation, arguing that the target matches workplace-specific bargaining deals ironed out by the Industrial Union.
“We cannot disclose the names of the specific companies with which we have made them, but there the cost effects have been in the 7–9-per-cent range for two years.”
Technology Industry Employers on Monday responded to the strike warnings by arguing that the situation in the industry is already difficult, as evidenced by an increase in lay-offs and furloughs, an ongoing drop in demand and a 17-per-cent drop in the value of order books in mechanical engineering and metal products industry.
Chairperson Jarkko Ruohoniemi also insisted that the collective bargaining negotiations have moved forward in positive spirits despite some bones of contention.
“Both sides have brought difficult issues to the table, and it has certainly been difficult – even impossible in some cases – to make progress on these. But we’ve also taken steps forward together,” he commented to Helsingin Sanomat.
Ruohoniemi added that the negotiations seem destined to continue under the guidance of the national conciliator. “I don’t think there are any other options,” he conceded.
The Industrial Union, he viewed, has deliberately drawn attention to pay increases that make its demands seem reasonable while failing to take into account the industry-wide realities.
“Of course they’ll deliberately publicise figures that support their views,” he analysed. “A national collective bargaining agreement has to take into consideration the situation and outlook for the entire industry.”
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
